BOXING: Mayweather to face Maidaina in next fight

By FROM STAFF REPORTS

Monday, February 24, 2014

The votes are in and the decision is set.

WBC welterweight champion Floyd Mayweather, who solicited fans’ input through social media on who his next opponent will be, will face Marcos Maidana May 3 on Showtime PPV, according to a report from Showtime Networks, Inc.

Maidaina (35-3, 31 KOs) is coming off a spectacular victory last December over the previously undefeated Adrien Broner, whom he knocked down twice en route to a unanimous decision to win the WBA welterweight championship.

“Marcos Maidaina’s last performance immediately brought him to my attention” said Mayweather, who turned 37 years old Feb. 24. “He is an extremely skilled fighter who brings knockout danger to the ring.”

Mayweather, a 10-time world champion, has a 45-0 record. However, this could be his toughest fight in years.

“Marcos Maidana’s last performance immediately brought him to my attention,” said Mayweather, who turned 37 years old on Monday. “He is an extremely skilled fighter who brings knockout danger to the ring. I think this is a great fight for me and he deserves the opportunity to see if he can do what ... others have tried to do before him.”

From thousands of responses on Twitter and Instagram accounts, the majority of which chose Maidana as the next logical oponent for Mayweather, the undefeated champ made his decision.

From thousands of responses on Twitter and Instagram accounts, the majority of which saw Maidana as the next opponent for Mayweather -- Amir Khan of England was also in the mix -- the unbeaten champ made his decision.

“This is an extremely dangerous fight for Floyd as Marcos Maidana is a technical knockout artist and continues to show us that he gets better with each fight,” said Leonard Ellerbe, CEO of Mayweather Promotions.

Maidana, from Argentina, is seven years younger than Mayweather, but isn’t intimidated by the champion’s stature as perhaps the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world.

“I just handed a great defensive fighter his first loss and I plan to do the same to Mayweather,” Maidana said. “I don’t care whether he’s the best and undefeated. I will bring some real Latino power to him on May 3.”

Mayweather last fought in September when he defeated Canelo Alvarez of Mexico in a fight which generated $150 million in revenue.

The event will be the third fight in a lucrative six-fight deal Mayweather has with Showtime Networks, Inc.